Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-08-19

neutral curing the PROMOTION light,
ald has until now taken thoroughly
conservative stand, having few words
Recommendation for the law and being
rather inclined against prohibition as
principle than in favor of it.
PROHIBITION IN ATLANTA.
LFEm the Atlanta constitutional
The election at which prohibition was put on
trial In thE city is entitled to place among
great EVENT. No election of q local nature was
ever before held in city of 10000 people in
which more was involved. The changes pro-
posed by itWere so radical as to be almost
revolutionary over 100 business houses were
to lie closed. Nearly 500 men were to be forced
tressury Was % be- LEFT With $4,000 less re eve
nue.. Trade amounting annually to millions
was to DO turned away from the city. Many
largo businest houses were to be left unrented
radical met with the most spirited and deter
mined opposition. Many of our best citizens
regarded it with outspoken disfavor.
1t was said that prohibition in q city so large
Us this was ihprncticable, that it would not
prohibit, that the trade would be injured, that
taxes would Up increased, that the stores in
which the liQubr business was carried on would
not be rented fSr other purposes, that the same
amount OF whisky would be drunk with the law
as without it, the city would only miss the rev.
enue, that it would be death-blow to Atlanta's
progress.
It has now bsen eighteen months since the
election, and twelve months since the law went
into effect W. are prepared thus from obser-
walton to note results,
Prohibition ii this city does prohibit The
law is observedIas we'll Us the law against car
rying concealedweapons, gambling, theft, and
other ofenses Of like character. If there had
cealed weapons. theft gambling, etc., as there
were in favor Of the retail Of ardent spirits
twelve months ago, law against these things
would not have been carried out as well as it
IN n ia VQ In al ar
Of the small majority with which prohibition
was carried. and the large number of people
who were opposed to seeing it prohibit, the
law has been marvelously we'll observed.
Prohibition has not injured the city financial
ly. According to the Assessors books, property
in the city has increased over $2,Oo00oO. Taxes
city, Decatur and Peters, were known as liquor
streets. 1t was hardly considered proper for q
lady to walk these streets without an escort.
Now they are just as orderly as any in the city:
per cent. The loss of $40, 00J revenue consequent
Oh closing the saloons has tended in no degree
to impede the city's progress in any direction.
Large appropriations have been made to the wa
ter works, the public schools, the Piedmont
fair, and other improvements. The business
men have raised $4,000 to build the Atlanta and
Hawkinsville Railroad ;the number Of city banks
new railroads has been settled during the year.
Fifteen new stores. containing house-furnishing
godls, have been started since prohibition went
ture has been sold to mechanics and laboring
men in the last twelve months than in any
twelve months during the history of the city.
The manufacturing establishments Of the city
been built. A cotton.seed Oil mill is being
built worth S125.0O0 All improvement COM
panies with basis In real estate have seen
their stock doubled In value since the election
on prohibition.
Stores in which the liquor trade was con-
Quoted are not vacant, but are now occupied by
estate men more laborers and men of limited
means are buying lots than ever before. Rents
houses are rented by the same number Of fam
sometimes rs many as three families would
live in the house. The heads of those families
now not spending their money for drink are
each aee 70 snqs
a great part of their money for liquor, now
spend it in food and clothes for their families.
The retail grocery men sell more goods and
collect their bills better than ever before.
Thus they are able to settle more promptly with
the wholesale men,
A perceptible increase has been noticed il
the number OF people who ride on the street
cars. According to the coal dealers, many peo
pie bought coal and stored it away last winter
who had never been known to do SO before
Others who had been accustomed to buying
two or three tons on time this last winter
bought seven or eight and paid cash for it;
leading proprietor Of a millinery store said that
he had sold more hats and bonnets to laborine
men for their wives and daughters than before
in the history of his business. Contractors say
their men do better work, and on Saturday
evenings, when they receive their weeks
wages, spend the same for flour, hams, dry
goods, or other necessary things for their fami.
lies Thus they are in better spirits, have more
hone, and are not inclined to strike and grow
Attendance upon the public schools has in.
crer sed The Superintendent of Public In
said in 6ia renOrt to the ROard OF
Education, made Jan. l, 1887:
"During the past year it has become o sub
ject of remark by teachers in the schools and
were better dressed, were better shod, and pre-
scented neater appearance than ever before
Less trouble has been experienced in having
parents purchase books required by the rules
fewer children have been Withdrawn to aid in
supporting the family, the higher classes in tho
grammar schools have boon fuller, and more
schools. both male and female than ever be,
fore in the history of the schools. All these in.
dications point to the increased prosperity OF
the city, and to the growing interest IN the
cause Of education on the part OF the people.
There has been a marked increase in ut
tendance upon the Sunday Schools of the city
This is especially noticeable among the sub
urban churches. Many children have started
to the Sunday Schools who we're not 'ble to at
tend for want of proper clothing Attendance
upon the different churches is for better. From
Is 0 to 1000 people have joined the various
cuulC1lcS VI tlio Sioy AoAiA WV
The determination OH the part OF the people
to prohibit the liquor traffic has stimulated
disposition to do away with other evils. The
laws against gambling are risidly enforced,
considerable stock of gamblers tools gathered
together by the police for everal years past was
recently used for the purpose of making a large
bonfire on one of the unoccupied squares OF the
city. The City Council has refused longer tc
grant licenses to bucket shops, thus putting the
seal of its condemnation upon the trade in flu
lures of all kinds
All these reforms have had o decided tenden
CIV to diminish crime. Two weeks were neces
sary formerly to got through with the criminal
docket. During the present year it was closed
out in two days. The chain-sang is almost LEFT
with nothing but the chains and the balls. The
gang part would not be large enough to work the
public roads OF the county were it not augment
ed by fresh supplies from the surrounding cour'
ties Tho City Government is IN the hands o.
our best citizens.
The majority in this county in favor OF pro
hibition was only 235. Such a. change has
taken place in public sentiment. however, thai
now there is hardly respectable antl-proh1
bitionist in the city who favors return to par
rooms. There are some who would prefer h1gt
license, or it, sale by the gallon, but 1t is re-
markable feet that there is no disposition z
have the saloon opened again. The BARRON
has gone from Atlanta forever, and the people
with remarkable unanimity say amenI Ihef'